Unless marked otherwise, the speed limit in Mosman is 50km/h, so please drive at this speed or under, depending on the conditions. Areas with speed limits of 10, 40 or 60km/h are clearly marked.

Many of us speed thinking that just a little bit over is okay, that no-one will get hurt and that that we have control of the vehicle. This is a dangerous way of thinking.

The 50km/h local speed limit allows us to adjust our driving when unexpected things occur, like a young child chasing a ball onto the road or a vehicle backing out of a driveway. As a community we all need to be responsible and make sure that we drive to the conditions of the road and adjust our speed to best suit our surroundings.

Not all streets in Mosman are 50km/h. There are 40km/h high pedestrian areas, 40km/h school zones and 10km/h shared zones. Please take note of signs when travelling around Mosman, as these zones are in place to improve safety, especially for pedestrians.

The aim of the campaign is to keep our local roads safe by educating the community about the local speed limit, which is 50km, and to change the perception that “just a little” over the speed limit is ok so that drivers travel at a safe speed or to the conditions of the road.

This campaign provides graphic information to show the effects of speeding on reaction and braking distances. There is also information showing the survival rates for pedestrians if hit at various speeds over the 50km/h speed limit. This, it is hoped, will bring home the realisation that our local roads are high density areas occupied by all types of road users including young children and that hitting any pedestrian, even at low speeds, could be devastating. It urges drivers to expect the unexpected…and to remember that if It’s a Local street then it’s 50!

Reaction and braking distances increase as you go faster as indicated in the information above. If a pedestrian such as the young boy with the ball stepped out on the road 35m away, could you stop in time?

A car travelling at 50km/h will take an average of 35m to stop including driver reaction time so they would probably miss hitting the boy.

A car travelling at 60km/h will take over 40m to stop but would hit the boy at a speed of 46km/h;

A car travelling at 70km/h will take almost 55m to stop and will hit the boy at 66km/h; and

A car travelling at 80km/h will take almost 70m to stop and will hit the boy at a speed of 79km/h

Research from Transport for NSW data indicates that:

25% of pedestrians would die if hit by a vehicle travelling at 40km/h and the vehicle travelling at 60km/h would have only slowed down to 46km/h before it hit the boy;

55% would die if hit at 50km/h; and

85% would die if hit at 60km/h.

In Mosman, statistics from 2014 show that the greatest contributing factor to crashes is speed, making up 11% of all crashes.

Remember – It’s local it’s 50! – keep our roads safe for everyone and drive to the conditions of the road.

Mosman Council together with Hornsby, North Sydney, Lane Cove, Ku-ring-gai, Northern Beaches, Ryde and Willoughby Councils in partnership with the Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) re-launched the pedestrian campaign called – Distracted…? in April 2017.

The Distracted…? campaign aims to reduce pedestrian crashes and challenge pedestrians to take responsibility for their own safety when crossing the road. The campaign urges pedestrians to concentrate on the road before stepping off the kerb.

The Distracted…? campaign rolls out across the eight northern Sydney councils and will remind pedestrians to stop and be completely aware of all potential dangers before walking onto the road.

In today’s technology-driven world it’s easy to zone out with so many portable and hand held gadgets stealing people’s attention away from the real world. This can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians who aren’t paying attention to what’s happening on the road.

Pedestrians become more vulnerable when stepping out from the kerb if they are distracted with their music devices and mobile phones because it limits their hearing and reduces their concentration.

In Mosman:

In 2015 pedestrians made up 10% of all casualties and were involved in 5% of all crashes.

During the five year period 2011 to 2015 there have been 32 pedestrian casualties in Mosman.

In 2010 to 2014 pedestrian casualties are highest in the 70+ and 40-49 year old age groups with the next highest being the 0-16 year olds.

When a vehicle hits a person it is a very uneven contest, with the pedestrian often sustaining serious injuries. The vehicle and the driver often sustain only minor injury/damage.

The Distracted…? pedestrian campaign includes print advertising, face-to-face promotions and various types of outdoor advertising to engage pedestrians.

Did you see any advertising? Let us know what you think by completing our survey.

Mosman Council is encouraging its residents and visitors to think about their Plan B before heading out.

Mosman, North Sydney and Ku-ring-gai Councils are teaming up with Roads and Maritime Services and NSW Police, once again this year, to prevent drink driving this festive season.

During the festive season and into the new year, the campaign will highlight the need for everyone attending Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Boxing Day, and Australia Day celebrations, no matter where they are, a local pub, club, restaurant or someone’s home, to have a “Plan B” – an alternate way home that doesn’t involve driving if you have been drinking alcohol.

Your Plan B could include:

Organising a lift with a sober driver

Sharing a cab

Using public transport

Staying on a friend’s couch

Booking accommodation near the party venue

There are so many options…take a close look at the list in the link below:

The Plan B Drink Drive Campaign is about encouraging people to make positive choices to get home safely after a night out, reinforcing the safety message that if you are having a few drinks, driving is NOT an option.

Council’s are working closely with participating local bottle shops and licensed venues to support the initiative through the displaying posters, drink coasters and t-shirts and distribution of bottle bags that promote the Plan B message. Single use breath testers will also be available from some participating venues free of charge.

Research conducted by the Centre for Road Safety shows that the presence of illegal drugs is involved in the same number of fatal crashes as drink driving. Extra local police will be out and about over the festive season and into the new year, targeting drink drivers and conducting random breath tests. This year there will be a focus on Mobile Drug Testing (MDT).

Drinking and driving or taking illegal drugs before driving puts you at risk of injuring or killing yourself, your friends or other innocent people. Alcohol and other drugs slow your reflexes, reduce coordination and increase risk taking behaviour, making a crash more likely.

If you have had a lot to drink, you may be over the limit for much of the next day as it can take up to 18 hours for your blood alcohol concentration to get back to zero. Your body needs time to get alcohol out of your system. Coffee, a big meal or cold showers will not reduce your blood alcohol content, the only thing that sobers you up is time. If you are unsure the best thing to do is to find a Plan B. Have a look at this link for information on getting back to zero.

Planning a night out? Check train and bus timetables for late night services home or call 131500.

With 2 in 3 car seats not being used properly, make sure your child is safe with a free inspection by Authorised Restraint Fitters. You can have your child car seats, harnesses and booster seats checked for safety and fit.

No Stopping: Vehicles must not stop in a No Stopping area for any length of time, no matter how short a time. Dropping off or picking up passengers is not permitted in these areas. A continuous yellow edge line also indicates a No Stopping zone. Fine: exceeds $248 ($319 and 2 demerit points in a school zone). Unbroken yellow kerb line: An unbroken yellow kerb line is a no stopping line and therefore the same rules apply as for No Stopping sign. Drivers must not stop for any reason other than a medical or similar emergency. Fine: exceeds $248 ($319 and 2 demerit points in a school zone).

No Parking: Vehicles may stop in a No Parking area to pick up or drop off goods or passengers provided drivers stay within three meters of their vehicle and are not parked in the No Parking zone for longer than two minutes. Fine: exceeds $177 and 2 demerit points (in a school zone).

Bus Zones: Must be kept clear at all times. Vehicles that are parked and stopped in bus zones create problems for bus drivers pulling into and out of these bays. Buses forced to double park and manoeuvre through inadequate space is extremely dangerous. It is illegal to stop in a bus zone for any period of time. Fine: exceeds $ 319 and 2 demerit points (in a school zone).

Unbroken yellow kerb line: An unbroken yellow kerb line is a no stopping line and therefore the same rules apply as for No Stopping sign. Drivers must not stop for any reason other than a medical or similar emergency. Fine: exceeds $248 ($319 and 2 demerit points in a school zone).